Practical truths tending to promote the power of godliness

You may please your selves with vain imaginations ⟨p. 185⟩nations, that such persons shall receive good by being amongst them. But it is far more likely that you will receive hurt by them, then that they shall receive good by you. Can a man touch pitch and not be defiled? Can he have unnecessary communion with vain and vicious persons, and yet his Conscience not be polluted? Remember what Solomon saith, Prov. 6 27. 28. Can a man take fire in his bosom and his clothes not be burnt? can one go upon hot coals and his feet not be burnt? Thou ta•est […] into thy bosom, when thou maketh a vain person thy Companion; and burning is like to follow upon it. When God in his word doth prohibit this or that iniquity, therein is implied that men must abstain from the Temptation leading thereunto, and therefore that they should beware of vain company, as they would not fall into sin, such company being a great & dangerous Temptation unto many sins. Be not so profane as to plead Christs holy example in eating with Publicans and Sinners, as an encouragement to sit with vain persons. The Holy Son of God had no sin inherent in him, nor could he sin or be over come with any Temptation. When Satan came, he found nothing in him to fasten a temptation upon. But how much otherwise is it with thee? Tinder is not more subject to take fire, then thy corrupt heart is apt to be tainted, when the infectious sparks of temptation are flying about thee. There is danger ⟨p. 186⟩also, in being amongst vain Companions left their sine should become thine. Men should make great Conscience of that Rule, 1 Tim. 5. 22. Neither be partaker of other mens sins, keep thy self pure. When thou fittest with vain persons, thou wilt hear them speak like themselves. vainly, and instead of reproving it, it they be thou wilt but laugh at it. So wilt thou become a partaker of their sins: And if so, how canst thou expect not to partake in their punishments? Come away then from amongst them, that ye be not partakers of their sins, and that ye receive not of their plagues, Rev. 18. 4. Did not Abeziab lose his life, because he was found in company with wicked Jotam: Nay, I will suppose thee to be a godly man, one in whom good things are found; but thy godliness will not secure or save thee from temporal judgements, if thou are more intimate and familiar with vain persons, then doth become thy Religion and holy profession.